…Review conference ends without agreement as disarmament push stalls
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) has accused nuclear-armed states including the United States, United Kingdom, France, China and Russia of deliberately suppressing evidence on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, as global negotiations on disarmament ended in deadlock.
The allegation came as the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty concluded in New York without a final consensus document, after weeks of tense negotiations marked by deep divisions between nuclear powers and non-nuclear states.
According to ICAN, efforts by the majority of participating countries to strengthen commitments toward nuclear risk reduction and eventual elimination were repeatedly blocked by nuclear-armed states and their allies, who resisted references to established scientific findings on the catastrophic humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons.
The conference, which reviewed global compliance with the decades-old non-proliferation framework, ended without agreement on key issues including disarmament language, nuclear testing norms, and accountability for nuclear weapons use and development.
…Dispute Over Humanitarian Impact
Throughout the talks, a broad coalition of non-nuclear states reportedly cited evidence from global humanitarian bodies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), warning that any nuclear detonation would trigger mass civilian casualties, long-term environmental destruction, and irreversible health consequences.
However, ICAN said nuclear-armed countries actively resisted the inclusion of such references in the final draft outcome, with some disputing the scientific consensus on the scale of destruction such weapons would cause.
“There is a reason why the countries that claim protection from nuclear weapons are afraid of discussion of what these weapons actually do to people and the environment,” said ICAN Director of Programmes, Susi Snyder.
“They do not want the world to fully understand the horror, because it undermines the legitimacy of retaining these weapons.”
...Testing Concerns Resurface
The talks also exposed growing disagreement over the global moratorium on nuclear testing. Some states questioned whether a binding norm against testing still exists, while efforts to push for full ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty stalled.
ICAN warned that the weakening of consensus could open the door to renewed nuclear testing, amid recent political signals from major powers suggesting possible reconsideration of testing policies after decades of restraint.
Rising Geopolitical tensions
Delegates also clashed over nuclear sharing arrangements, expanded deterrence strategies, and military alliances involving nuclear weapons deployment.
While countries expressed concern over escalating nuclear signalling by major powers, including recent missile tests and military exercises, no consensus was reached on condemning or even formally acknowledging such developments in the final text.
… TPNW Sidelined In Talks
The conference also failed to recognise the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, despite its adoption by a majority of United Nations member states as a legal framework aimed at banning nuclear weapons entirely.
ICAN said the refusal to reference the treaty reflected continued resistance by nuclear-armed states to any binding pathway toward disarmament.
… Warning For Global Security
